50 YEARS STRONG (For my parents)

50 YEARS STRONG (For my parents)


50 years ago this day
A family
Borne of precious love
Bill and Dot
Vigor Grads
Endless hopes and dreams
Three healthy children
Gifts from God above
Pop smelled of “bread and butter”
Paper Mill aroma
Mimi ran the household
Little league
Girl Scout cookies
Blonde curls
Little girls
Mischievous boy
Backyard swings
Mop water incidents
A cat named “Fluffy”
A dog named “Trey”
Creek mud stains to deal with
Bible school days
A baby girl named “Buggy”
Pop
The coach
Mimi
Taxi Driver
Lisa Ann
The strong and steadfast one
Earned badge of patience
Sunday drives after church
Chickasaw afternoons
Homemade ice cream
Caramels
Grandparent’s pride and joy
Family dinner round the table
Abundant Lazy Susan
Vegetables my nemesis
Despite the many setbacks
Always a goodnight kiss
Bee stings
Bloody noses
Scraps with Scott Callahan
Playing “Army” in the hall
Weeks old food
Beneath “Queenies bed”
Leslie’s charm
The gerbils
Hard headed Weehoo
Rebellious Dreamer Athlete
Beatles albums
Barbie dolls
Easy Bake Ovens
Football games
Bike rides
Home run balls
Late night phone calls
Abdul and crew
They reverently called Mimi “Mother”
So grateful for the hospitality
So far away from home
Pop’s thunder snores
Mimi’s patient sighs
So many twisted turns
A family remains
Our life together
Hardly dull
Sacred memories
Warm and sweet
We thrive because of this sacred love
Our parents sacrifice
The Grimes Family
50 years strong and growing……..

(C) Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

FORGIVEN

FORGIVEN


I spent my life in turmoil
Futile justification
Vain attempts to validate
My wretched sinful nature
Then
One gleaming moment
A miracle occurred
Lightning bolt of mercy
Precious saving grace
Forgiven
In majestic form
Burning bush split second
Embraced by Jesus Christ
Unconditional love
His radiance
Immaculate
Glowing peace
Profound
Today
I share this blessing
With all who cross my path
Selah


10 "Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

"THESE THINGS MUST HAPPEN FIRST"

“THESE THINGS MUST HAPPEN FIRST”


Flashpoint
Trouble brewing
Forecast
Years ago
Ancient armies gather
Golan Heights
Ground zero
Hostility
Raw hatred
Zion enveloped
Countdown to eruption
Jackals
Salivate
War
Revolution
“These things must happen first”
Guiding light upon us
Precious grace
Fear not
His hour draws nigh…….


Signs of the End of the Age

5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said 6” As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
7"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
10Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life.
20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21: 5-28

NIV


© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Daisy chains
Fluorescent focus
Frustrated souls
United
Beleaguered laws of social lay
Raging thirst for change
Tambourines
Sacred drums
Stoic chants
Grow stronger
Truth shines
Pristine
Through the muck of evil
Hapless bureaucracy
Tainted politics
The people
Rule transition
A voice
Much like a bullet
Sparks a genuine movement
There comes a time
Defiance
Arrives
Instrumental
Alter destiny
Feed the starving babes
Insanity is rampant
We look the other way
It’s time
Practice kindness
Demand accountability
I’ve glimpsed this story’s ending
Righteousness prevails
Revelation tells the tale
We must make a difference now



© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

TWELVE TRIBES

TWELVE TRIBES


Rasta’s call Him Jah
Partake of nature’s herb
Biblically inspired
Oppressed
Sincere
Islam
Worships Allah
Majority
Flowing peace
Hinduism
Buddha
Sikhs
Judaism
Shinto
Jain Dharma
Me
I follow Jesus Christ
My word
Spread compassion
Judgment
Not our gig
We
All descendents
Ancient twelve tribes
Harmony exists
Beyond mortal chaos
Love
Inherent instinct
Hatred
A taught response


© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

CHANGE

CHANGE


They say
We cannot change the world
Look closer
We have
Already
Gift of Christ
Compassion
Kindred love
Abundant
Impact
Now
United souls
Common peaceful focus
Harmony
Infectious
Living it
Each day


Matthew 7:16 (King James Version)

16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits.”

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

AMERICAN DREAM (Updated)

AMERICAN DREAM




Dozing watchmen
Asleep at the wheel
Sweet slumber of indifference
Sedated
Proletariat multitude
Whacked on narcotic apathy
Stagnant spirit
Insipid eyes
Blank stare of nihility
Anesthetized sting
Haunting sonorous moans
Middle Eastern death knell
Increments of bipartisan drivel
Tortured subsistence
Mighty military machine
Arrogant vision
Complete world dominance
Drunk on wine of aggression
Rueful repercussions
Synthetic American dream
Mirage of freedom’s spoils
Counterfeit success
We conquered Babylon
For U.N. parking spots
Cataclysmic consequences
Global strike capability
Thermonuclear physics
Paper trail bureaucracy
Deceiving propaganda
On the road to Damascus
Oil well fires ablaze
Petrochemical blackmail
We bet the house on crude
We lost our shirt that day
Iran
The latest “thug”
Hawks begin their chant
Plastered commonwealth
Bereft middle class
Controlled
Manipulated
Common sense
Devoured
Aristocratic puppets
We stalk our prostrate prey
Imperialism mosh pit
Insatiable greed
Power behind the throne
Ludicrous
Unbridled
Beware
As Turkey joins the fray
Frustrated
Complicated
Kurdish implosion
Volatile house of cards
Israel’s nemesis
As it is written
Deceived denizens
View the power play
We tumble blindly
Into the void
Dark expectations
Forget “global warming”
The desert heat ignites



© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

SELFLESSNESS

Humble acts of selflessness
Blessings
Not a curse
The more a child within
Practices acceptance
Quite simply
It’s not about me
The Master gives us guidance
In love
“Feed My sheep”
Massive ego
Distant blur this day
Replaced
By raw compassion
Come to grips
With simple love
A holy species thrives
No true earthly shortcuts
“Ye must be born again"
The only path to peace
Womb of pacifist behest
Stokes an inner flame
To serve
Without regret
As Christ so clearly leads
Blind faith
Paramount
Trust
In fertile soil
All glory
His alone
Pointed purpose is to serve
The trip
Unencumbered
Destination crosshairs
Sincere eternal focus
Such a blessed honor
Brilliant grace bestowed
Despite human frailty

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007

Color outside of the lines......

NEW SONG


Antithesis of malice
Fresh chrysalis
Rise above the fray
Working on a new song
Living it
Each day


“It is an artistic crime if you simply drag it in by the heels to get yourself out of a hole”

“Miracles”
By C. S. Lewis © 1947


© Bill Grimes Jr. 2007